Chapter 9

There were tears in Isla’s eyes, making her look innocent and pitiful. Noah wanted to scold her more, but he could no longer do it. He let go of her and looked at her in a condescending manner. “Did you ask the maid to say that? Why did you lure me here?” She felt even more wronged after hearing the man’s cold tone. She had tears rolling in her eyes again. “If I hadn’t asked her to say that, would you have come in to look at me?” She wrapped herself in a towel and got up. She then said softly, “Why else would I do it?” She took the initiative to hug him. Who knew he’d suddenly take a step back, not giving her a chance at all. “If that’s all, I’ll be going.” His voice was cold and flat, and he turned around to leave. “There’s something else!” Isla said quickly. “I hurt my ankle, hubby.” She stretched her long right leg at him and pointed the tip of her foot at his thigh. Noah’s body stiffened, and his eyes turned grim. He pursed his lips and suddenly grabbed her ankle. He then turned around. Isla revealed a sexy smile upon seeing him turn around. It seemed seductive and alluring as she said coquettishly, “Hubby… My foot hurts…” She was a cool beauty with exquisite features. She was just perfect. She was especially sexy and charming when she smirked like that. Noah raised his eyebrows, his dark eyes suppressing the fire burning secretly in them. He looked away before following her long leg and looking at the ankle that he was holding. Her legs were smooth and thin, and her ankles were perfect and seductive. Her skin was fair as snow, making the redness on her ankle extra obvious. The image was etched deep into his dark eyes, and a subtle gleam flashed from his pupils. He shut his eyes and opened them again. His eyes became clear and cold once more. He grabbed harder now and said, sounding upset, “Tell me, what do you want now?” Isla blinked, looking shy, and whispered, “Can’t you tell? I’m inviting you to sleep with me...” “Are you mocking me?” Noah smirked sarcastically. He looked terrible as he scoffed. “Isla, you’re really going all out for him!” Mocking him? For someone else? Who? She looked at him in confusion. She did not really understand what he meant. “I didn’t…” Noah let go of her ankle before she could finish. There was a layer of frost on his face as he teased her. “Do you really think I want you?” Isla’s face turned pale. She was heartbroken, and it felt as if her heart was being pierced by needles. “Noah, must you be so hurtful?” Her eyes were red, and she looked sad. She choked as she said, “I know I made many mistakes, which is why you don’t trust me. But I’m being sincere now. I want to make it up to you–” The words “make it up to you” were like a needle poking his heart. His eyes turned cold at once. “I don’t need compensation.” A cold smile hung on his lips. “I don’t need it now, and I’ll never need it in the future!” He turned around to leave when he was done. Isla watched him leave in determination. She could not snap back to reality for a long time. She would never forget the image of Noah running toward her in the flames when the warehouse had been burning that day. She thought he would be willing to take her back as soon as she came back. However, now it seemed that she had hurt him so much that she would not be able to win him back in such a short time. Noah stood at the door for two seconds before going downstairs. “Sir, is madam alright?” The maid went over to him. “Aunt May,” he responded flatly after a second of hesitation. “She hurt her ankle. There’s ointment in my study. Go get it for her.” “Are you not taking it to her, sir?” Aunt May looked at him. She was quite worried. She had been working as a maid for the Paynes all her life. She used to take care of Noah’s mother, and she had also been taking care of him since he was young. He was just like her own son, so it was only natural that she wanted them to love each other. “No.” His tone was flat. She could not tell what he was feeling. “Sir, don’t blame me for being nosy,” she said after some hesitation. “But I think madam has really changed. I can see that she really cares about you. She asked if you were home as soon as she got back tonight. She looked sad when she found out that you weren’t home. If you still care about her, why don’t you give her another chance?” Noah’s face sank as he recalled what had happened in the bedroom. An unknown feeling was now growing inside of him. “Never say such a thing again.” He went upstairs. Aunt May sighed. She went to the study to get the medicine box and took it to the room. “What is it, Aunt May?” She saw the box in her hand before she was done speaking. Her eyes lit up. “Did he ask you to bring it?” The former nodded while smiling. She walked to the bed with the medicine box. She frowned as she looked at her ankle. It was obvious that her foot was swollen, and her ankle looked like it was hurting. Aunt May could not help but sigh when she recalled Noah’s attitude. She said while taking the ointment out of the box, “Don’t blame him, madam. He still cares about you. He intentionally went downstairs to get me to bring you the ointment.” “He’s worried about me?” Isla’s eyes were sparkly. She then smiled. “I knew he still liked me.” Aunt May smiled too when she saw her like that. Just as she was about to rub the ointment on her skin, Isla suddenly jumped from the bed. “I’m going to see him!” She moved so quickly that she almost fell from the bed. However, she did not care about that. She took the ointment from Aunt May and ran to the guest room. The door was unlocked, so she opened it just like that. When she stepped in, she heard the water running in the bathroom and blushed. Although they had been married for a few years, they had only had sex the night she had been drugged at the bar. After that… She covered her face shyly when she thought about sleeping with him later. She jumped on the soft bed in front of her and smelled a subtle manly fragrance. It was the smell of Noah. She hugged the blanket and shut her eyes as she indulged in the smell. She had never felt this safe before. “What are you doing?” The man’s cold voice came from above. Isla quickly opened her eyes. When she saw him standing next to the bed, her cheeks flushed and she gulped instinctively.